N[S(4-aryl-triazol-3-yl)α-mercaptoacetyl]-p-amino benozioc acids as HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors

ABSTRACT

A series of S-triazolyl α-mercaptoacetanilides having N-(α-mercaptoacetyl) p amino benzoic acid derivatives. 
                         
are provided, where Q is CO 2 H, or a salt or ester thereof, or a C(O)N-linked amino acid. The compounds inhibit several variants of the reverse transcriptase of HIV, and are useful in the treatment of HIV infections.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of PCT/US05/39294, filed on Oct. 28, 2005. This application is also a continuing application of International Application Serial No. PCT/US2005/30259, filed Aug. 25, 2005, designating the United States, which claimed benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/604,219, filed Aug. 25, 2004, Ser. No. 60/604,220, filed Aug. 25, 2004, and Ser. No. 60/686,351, filed May 31, 2005, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention is enzyme inhibitors and the use of enzyme inhibitors for treatment of disease. More particularly, the invention deals with the in vitro and in vivo inhibition of HIV reverse transcriptase as a method of treating HIV infection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Numerous treatments for HIV are known in the art, and among other pharmaceutically active compounds, reverse transcriptase inhibitors have provided significant therapeutic effect to many HIV infected patients. For example, lamivudine (3TC) or zidovudine (AZT) are relatively well tolerated antiretroviral drugs. However, numerous viral strains have recently emerged with marked resistance against these compounds. To overcome resistance to at least some degree, new nucleoside-type inhibitors may be administered (alone or in combination with other nucleoside-type inhibitors), and exemplary alternative drugs include stavudine (d4T), didanosine (ddI), Combivir™ (brand for a combination of lamivudine and zidovudine), and Trizivir™ (brand for a combination of 3TC, AZT, and abacavir).

Unfortunately, development of resistance to one nucleoside-type inhibitor is often accompanied by the development of a degree of resistance to another nucleoside-type inhibitor, frequently necessitating a switch to a different class of drug. In such cases, a patient may receive a protease inhibitor (e.g., saquinavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, etc.), typically in combination with other anti retroviral agents. However, the relatively complex administration regimen of such combinations often proves an organizational and financial challenge to many patients, and compliance is frequently less than desirable.

More recently, HIV treatment has focused on combination therapies that involve the administration of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors with protease inhibitors and with non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, and triple combinations of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and protease inhibitors. Unfortunately, combination therapies of protease inhibitors with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors are often poorly tolerated and frequently lead to premature termination of the therapy. Therefore, most current combination treatments include a combination of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

Non-nucleoside-type inhibitors (e.g., nevirapine, delavirdine, and efavirenz) are a structurally inhomogeneous group of compounds that are thought to bind in a non-nucleoside pocket of the reverse transcriptases. They significantly increase antiviral efficacy when co-administered with nucleoside-type inhibitors. While the non-nucleoside-type inhibitors seem to provide a promising new class of antiviral drugs, several disadvantages still remain. The cost of currently-known non-nucleoside-type inhibitors is relatively high, and a single mutation in the viral reverse transcriptases can induce a cross resistance against a wide class of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Therefore, there is an urgent to provide new non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors that have potent antiviral effects, particularly against HIV mutant strains that exhibit resistance against currently-known non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

The HIV virus has a relatively high frequency of mutation, which often leads to drug resistance to current treatments. Studies have been carried out to identify the mutation spectrum in the RT proteins of viruses isolated from patients who had failed therapies involving at least one NNRTI, and the results showed that the mutant K103N was the most predominant for patients taking efavirenz, while Y181C was predominant for patients taking nevirapine. Other single mutations included K101E, G190S/A/E and Y188L/C. Some of the most prevalent double mutations in patients failing efavirenz include K103N-P225H, K103N-V108I, K103N-K101Q, K103N-L100I, K103N-F227L, V106I-Y188L, K103N-Y188L and K103N-G190A. There is a need to provide new compositions and methods for the inhibition of these and other mutant reverse transcriptases.

The present application is related to work previously disclosed in commonly owned applications PCT/US02/26186, filed Aug. 23, 2002, unpublished, and PCT/US03/27433, filed Aug. 22, 2003, which was published as WO 2004/030611 on Apr. 15, 2004. U.S. Pat. No. 5,939,462 to Connell et al. discloses a large number of substituted heterocycles, useful as NPY5 receptor antagonists, some of which are S-triazolyl mercaptoacetanilides similar to general structure 1 below. Simoneau et al., in international patent publication WO 2004/050643, disclose tetrazoles and a few triazoles having structures similar to those of the present invention, having reverse transcriptase inhibitory activity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The inventors have discovered that the reverse transcriptase (RT) of HIV may be inhibited by a select class of S-triazolyl α-mercaptoacetanilides represented by general structure 1. Surprisingly, some of these compounds were able to inhibit various mutated RTs, including K103N, Y181C and Y188L.

In formula 1, R¹ is halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, or lower alkynyl, wherein the lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, or lower alkynyl groups may optionally be substituted, preferably with one or more halogens. R³ is H or methyl, and the substituent R^(o) is lower alkyl, halogen, CF₃, lower alkoxy, or lower alkylthio. R² can be H, a pharmaceutically acceptable cation or form a pharmaceutically acceptable ester. In an alternative embodiment OR² is replaced by the nitrogen of an amino acid or amino acid ester. Ar is an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring having substituents as described in more detail below.

Accordingly, the present invention provides compounds that inhibit HIV reverse transcriptase in vitro and in vivo. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more of the compounds of the invention, the use of compounds of the invention for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for treatment of HIV, and methods of treatment of a patient infected with HIV by administration of a therapeutically effective amount of one or more of the compounds of the invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The term “alkyl” as used herein refers to a cyclic, branched, or straight hydrocarbon radical in which all of the carbon-carbon bonds are single bonds, and the term “lower alkyl” refers to alkyl groups of one to ten carbon atoms. The term “cycloalkyl” as used herein refers to a cyclic or polycyclic alkyl group containing 3 to 15 carbons. A cycloalkyl group may comprise multiple condensed rings in which one of the distal rings may be aromatic (e.g., indan-2-yl, tetrahydronaphth-1-yl, etc.)

Similarly, the term “alkenyl” as used herein refers to a cyclic, branched, or straight hydrocarbon radical in which one or more of the carbon-carbon bonds is a double bond, and the term “lower alkenyl” refers to alkenyl groups of one to ten carbon atoms. The term “cycloalkenyl” as used herein refers to a cyclic or polycyclic alkyl group containing 3 to 15 carbons, in which one or more of the carbon-carbon bonds is a double bond. A cycloalkenyl group may comprise multiple condensed rings in which one of the distal rings may be aromatic (e.g., inden-2-yl, 1,2-dihydronaphth-1-yl, etc.)

Likewise, the term “alkynyl” as used herein refers to an alkyl or alkenyl group, as defined above, in which at least one carbon-carbon bond has been replaced by a triple bond. The term “lower alkynyl” thus includes alkynyl groups with one to ten carbon atoms.

As used herein, the term “alkoxy” refers to an —OR group, wherein R is lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, aryl-lower alkyl, heteroaryl-lower alkyl, or heterocyclo-lower alkyl. Similarly, the term “aryloxy” refers to an —OAr group, wherein Ar is an aryl or heteroaryl group.

The terms “aryl” and “Ar” are used interchangeably herein, and refer to a monocyclic or polycyclic hydrocarbon group of 6 to 14 carbons, having at least one aromatic ring which provides the point of attachment of the group. Polycyclic aryl groups may have isolated rings (e.g. biphenyl) or condensed rings in which at least one ring is aromatic, (e.g., 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphth-6-yl, naphthyl, anthryl, or phenanthryl).

The terms “heterocycle” or “heterocyclic ring” are used interchangeably herein and refer to a saturated, partially unsaturated, or aromatic cycloalkyl or aryl group, having a single ring (e.g., morpholino, pyridyl or furyl) or multiple condensed rings (e.g., naphthyridyl, quinoxalinyl, quinolinyl, or indolizinyl) in which at least one carbon atom in a ring has been replaced by a heteroatom. The term “heteroatom” as used herein refers to an atom other than carbon (typically S, O, P or N). The terms “heteroaryl” and “heteroaromatic” refer to heterocycles in which at least one heterocyclic ring is aromatic.

Still further, the term “optionally substituted” as used herein means that one or more hydrogen atoms that are covalently bound to a group or substituent as defined above, or a free electron pair on a nitrogen or phosphorous atom, may be replaced by a covalently-bound non-hydrogen substituent selected from the group consisting of R, Ar, aryl-lower alkyl, OH, SH, OR, SR, OAr, SAr, S(═O)R, S(═O)Ar, SO₂R, SO₂Ar, halogen, CF₃, OCF₃, SCF₃, NH₂, NHR, NR₂, NR₃+, NHCOR, NHCOAr, NHS(═O)R, NHS(═O)Ar, NHSO₂R, NHSO₂Ar, NO₂, CN, CO₂R, CONH₂, CONHR, CONR₂, C(═O)R, heteroaryl, and heteroaryl-lower alkyl. In the above substituents, R is lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, aryl-lower alkyl, heteroaryl-lower alkyl, or heterocyclyl-lower alkyl.

The term “prodrug” as used herein refers to a modification of a compound of the invention, wherein the modified compound exhibits less pharmacological activity (as compared to the unmodified compound) and wherein the modified compound is converted back into the unmodified form in vivo, preferably within a target cell (e.g., a T-cell or hepatocyte) or a target organ (e.g., lymph node or spleen). Conversion of a compound of the invention into a prodrug form may be useful where the active drug is too toxic for safe systemic administration, where the unmodified compound is poorly absorbed from the digestive tract, or where the body tends to break down the unmodified compound before it reaches its target.

The term “inhibiting a reverse transcriptase” refers to a direct or indirect reduction in the formation of DNA from a template RNA or DNA by a reverse transcriptase. Direct inhibition includes suicide, competitive and non-competitive inhibition, allosteric inhibition, or binding of an inhibitor in a non-nucleoside pocket. Examples of indirect inhibition include depletion of nucleosides for DNA synthesis, induction or contribution to conformational changes, etc.

As used herein, the term “reducing viral propagation” means that the titer of a virus in a sample is lowered. The reduction may be effected in a variety of manners, including partial or total inhibition of viral replication, partial or total inhibition of viral protein processing or assembly, inhibition of viral entry into or exit from an infected cell, and/or clearance of the virus from a system via an immune response to the virus.

The invention provides compounds of the following structure:

wherein Ar, Q, R¹, R³ and R^(o) are as defined above, X is O or NH;

-   R² is H, a pharmaceutically acceptable cation or C₁₋₃ alkyl, when X     is O; and XR² is an N-acylated amino acid or amino acid ester when X     is NH.

In preferred embodiments, R¹ is selected from among Cl, Br, I, CH₃, CF₃, CHF₂, and CH₂F; R³ is H; R^(o) is selected from among Cl, Br, CF₃ and CH₃; X═O. In particularly preferred embodiments, R^(o) is Cl.

Ar is preferably a substituted phenyl, naphthyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, or cinnolinyl ring. In preferred embodiments, the group P is selected from among the moieties (a), (b), (c) and (d) below:

wherein R^(P) is selected from among methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, cyclopropylmethyl, or C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl; R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ are independently selected from among H, F, Cl, Br, CH₃, CF₃, CFH₂, CF₂H, isopropyl, cyclopropyl, OCH₃, OH, OCF₃, NH₂ and NHCH₃;

U and U′ are independently selected from N and CH; R⁷ is selected from among Cl, Br, I, CH₃, CF₃, OCH₃, isopropyl, cyclopropyl, t-butyl, and cyclobutyl; and R⁸-R¹¹ are independently H or CH₃.

Synthesis of Compounds

Synthesis of the compounds of the invention may be performed following procedures substantially as described in WO 2004/030611, WO 2004/050643, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,939,462. It should be recognized, however, that numerous alternative synthetic routes for the compounds of the invention are possible. The following exemplary routes are provided by way of example, for the guidance of practitioners skilled in the art of synthetic organic chemistry.

In one synthetic route, a suitably substituted aniline is amidated with an activated carboxylic acid compound (preferably a carbonyl halide), wherein the activated carboxylic acid compound further includes a leaving group L² (preferably bromine). After formation of the anilide, the reaction product is reacted with a mercaptotriazole (Het-SH), displacing the leaving group to form the desired compound as depicted in Scheme 1 below.

This scheme is advantageous where the mercaptotriazole “Het-SH” is valuable relative to the aniline, since the triazole is not used until the last step and is not subjected to the inevitable losses that occur during the synthetic manipulation of intermediates. The choice of leaving groups L¹ and L² will depend to some extent on the particular choice of amine and to a lesser degree on the particular mercaptotriazole. It is particularly preferred that L¹ and L² are halide, most preferably chloride or bromide. Suitable solvents for the amidation reaction include ethers, alcohols, and hydrocarbons (preferably halogenated) and the choice of suitable solvents will at least in part depend on the chemical nature of the reactants. With respect to the solvents, catalysts and/or bases employed in the above reaction, the considerations described by Connell et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,939,462) will generally apply.

An example of Scheme 1 is the synthesis outlined in Scheme 2, in which a compound of the invention is prepared from two separately-prepared precursors. The first precursor, comprising a substituted triazine, and the second precursor, comprising a substituted aniline, may be prepared following the protocols given below in the section entitled “Examples”. Reaction of the precursors is typically carried out in a polar aprotic solvent such as DMF, in the presence of a base such as potassium carbonate. In some cases, the base is not necessary.

Where the triazole is substituted with a fluorinated alkyl group, a synthetic procedure as shown in Scheme 3 may be employed.

A halogen-substituted triazole may be prepared by dihalogenation of a triazole, followed by displacement of one of the halides, as shown in Scheme 4.

Another way to build a substituted triazole with a halogen is by diazotization of an aminotriazole, as shown in Scheme 5 below, which follows a procedure given below in the section entitled “Examples”.

Alternatively, where the triazole is substituted with a CF₃, the synthetic procedure shown n Scheme 6 may be employed, following similar procedures given below in the section entitled “Examples”.

Pharmaceutical Compositions

Where compounds of the invention are administered as part of a pharmacological composition, it is contemplated that suitable compounds can be formulated in admixture with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients, and other additives. It is particularly preferred that the compounds of the invention are included in a pharmaceutical composition that is formulated with one or more non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. The pharmaceutical compositions may be formulated for oral administration in solid or liquid form, for parenteral injection, or for rectal administration.

The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention can be administered to humans and other animals orally, rectally, parenterally, intravaginally, intraperitoneally, topically, bucally, or as an oral or nasal spray. The term “parenteral” administration as used herein refers to modes of administration which include but are not limited to intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous and intra-articular injection and infusion.

Pharmaceutical compositions for parenteral injection preferably comprise pharmaceutically acceptable sterile aqueous or nonaqueous solutions, dispersions, suspensions or emulsions as well as sterile powders for reconstitution into sterile injectable solutions or dispersions just prior to use. Examples of suitable aqueous and nonaqueous carriers, diluents, solvents and vehicles include water, ethanol, polyols (such as glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and the like), and suitable mixtures thereof, vegetable oils (such as olive oil), and injectable organic esters such as ethyl oleate. Proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the use of coating materials such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersions, and by the use of surfactants.

Compositions may also contain additives such as preservatives, wetting agents, emulsifying agents, and dispersing agents. Prevention of the action of microorganisms may be ensured by the inclusion of various antibacterial and antifungal agents, for example, paraben, chlorobutanol, phenol sorbic acid, and the like. It may also be desirable to include isotonic agents such as sugars, sodium chloride, and the like. Prolonged absorption of the injectable pharmaceutical form may be brought about by the inclusion of agents which delay absorption such as aluminum monostearate and gelatin.

In order to prolong the effect of a compound of the invention, it may be desirable to slow the absorption of the drug from subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. This may be accomplished by the use of a liquid suspension of crystalline or amorphous material with poor water solubility. The rate of absorption of the compound then depends upon its rate of dissolution, which in turn may depend upon crystal size and crystalline form. Alternatively, delayed absorption of a parenterally-administered compound of the invention may be accomplished by dissolving or suspending the drug in an oil vehicle.

Injectable depot forms are made by forming unitary or microparticulate matrices of a compound of the invention in biodegradable polymers, including but not limited to polylactide-polyglycolide, poly(orthoesters), and poly(anhydrides. The rate of drug release can be controlled by varying the ratio of drug to polymer and the nature of the particular polymer employed. Depot injectable formulations may also prepared by entrapping the compound in liposomes or microemulsions which are compatible with body tissues.

Solid dosage forms for oral administration include but are not limited to capsules, tablets, pills, powders, dragees, and granules. In such solid dosage forms, the active compound is mixed with at least one inert, pharmaceutically acceptable excipient or carrier such as sodium citrate or dicalcium phosphate and/or (a) fillers or extenders, such as starches, lactose, sucrose, glucose, mannitol, and silicic acid, (b) binders, such as carboxymethylcellulose, alginates, gelatin, polyvinylpyrrolidone, sucrose, and acacia, (c) humectants, such as glycerol, (d) disintegrating agents, such as agar-agar, calcium carbonate, potato or tapioca starch, alginic acid, certain silicates, and sodium carbonate, (e) solution retarding agents, such as paraffin, (f) absorption accelerators, such as quaternary ammonium compounds, (g) wetting agents, such as cetyl alcohol and glycerol monostearate, (h) absorbents, such as kaolin and bentonite clay, and (i) lubricants, such as talc, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, solid polyethylene glycols, sodium lauryl sulfate, and mixtures thereof. Solid dosage forms may also comprise buffering agents.

Solid compositions may also be employed as fillers in soft and hard-filled gelatin capsules using such excipients as lactose or milk sugar as well as high molecular weight polyethylene glycols and the like. The solid dosage forms can be prepared with coatings and shells such as enteric coatings and other coatings well-known in the pharmaceutical formulating art. They may optionally contain opacifying agents and may also be of a composition such that they release the active ingredient(s) only, or preferentially, in a certain part of the intestinal tract, optionally in a delayed manner. The active compounds may also be in micro-encapsulated form

Liquid dosage forms for oral administration include pharmaceutically acceptable emulsions, solutions, suspensions, syrups and elixirs. In addition to the active compounds, the liquid dosage forms may contain inert diluents commonly used in the art such as, water or other solvents, solubilizing agents and emulsifiers such as ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, ethyl carbonate, ethyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, dimethyl formamide, oils (in particular, cottonseed, groundnut, corn, germ, olive, castor, and sesame oils), glycerol, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, polyethylene glycols and fatty acid esters of sorbitan, and mixtures thereof. Oral liquid compositions may also include adjuvants such as wetting agents, emulsifying and suspending agents, coloring, sweetening, flavoring, and perfuming agents.

The compounds of the present invention may be used in the form of pharmaceutically acceptable salts derived from inorganic or organic acids. By “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” is meant those salts which are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contact with the tissues of humans and lower animals without undue toxicity, irritation, allergic response and the like and are commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts are well-known in the art. For example, S. M. Berge, et al. describe pharmaceutically acceptable salts in detail in J. Pharmaceutical Sciences, 1977, 66:1 et seq. The salts may be prepared in situ during the final isolation and purification of the compounds of the invention or separately by reacting a free base form with a suitable acid. Representative acid addition salts include, but are not limited to acetate, adipate, alginate, citrate, aspartate, benzoate, benzenesulfonate, bisulfate, butyrate, camphorate, camphorsulfonate, citrate, gluconate, glutamate, glycerophosphate, hemisulfate, heptanoate, hexanoate, fumarate, hydrochloride, hydrobromide, hydroiodide, 2-hydroxyethansulfonate (isethionate), lactate, maleate, methanesulfonate, nicotinate, 2-naphthalenesulfonate, oxalate, pamoate, pectinate, 3-phenylpropionate, phosphate, pivalate, propionate, succinate, sulfate, tartrate, bicarbonate, p-toluenesulfonate and undecanoate. Basic nitrogen-containing groups may also be quaternized with such agents as lower alkyl halides such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl chlorides, bromides and iodides; dialkyl sulfates like dimethyl, diethyl, dibutyl and diamyl sulfates; long chain halides such as decyl, lauryl, myristyl and stearyl chlorides, bromides and iodides; arylalkyl halides like benzyl and phenethyl bromides and others. Water or oil-soluble or dispersible products are thereby obtained.

Basic addition salts can be prepared in situ during the final isolation and purification of compounds of this invention, or subsequently, by reacting a carboxylic acid-containing moiety with a suitable base such as the hydroxide, carbonate or bicarbonate of a pharmaceutically acceptable metal cation or with ammonia or an organic primary, secondary or tertiary amine. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, but are not limited to, alkali and alkaline earth metals such as lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and aluminum salts and the like, and nontoxic quaternary ammonium and amine salts including ammonium, tetramethylammonium, tetraethylammonium, methylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, triethylamine, diethylamine, ethylamine and the like. Other representative organic amines useful for the formation of base addition salts include ethylenediamine, ethanolamine, diethanolamine, piperidine, piperazine, glucosamine, leucine, and the like.

Actual dosage levels of active ingredients in the pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may be varied so as to obtain an amount of the active compound(s) that is effective to achieve the desired therapeutic response for a particular patient, composition, and mode of administration. The selected dosage level will depend upon the activity of the particular compound, the route of administration, the dosing schedule, the severity of the condition being treated, and the condition and prior medical history of the patient being treated. Dose-ranging studies are routine, and it is within the ability of those skilled in the art to start doses of the compound at levels lower than required to achieve the desired therapeutic effect and to gradually increase the dosage until the desired effect is achieved. Generally, dosage levels of about 0.1 to about 100, more preferably about 5 to about 50 mg of an active compound per kilogram of body weight per day are administered orally to a mammalian patient. If desired, the effective daily dose may be divided into multiple doses for purposes of administration, e.g., two to four separate doses per day.

The compounds of the invention may be administered alone or in combination with other agents for the treatment of HIV. Particularly contemplated additional compounds include nucleoside-type reverse transcriptase inhibitors (e.g., lamivudine, zidovudine, stavudine, abacavir, tenofovir or didanosine), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (e.g., nevirapine, delavirdine, efavirenz), protease inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir, saquinavir, indinavir, nelfinavir), fusion inhibitors (e.g., enfuvirtide), CCR5 antagonists, immunotherapeutic agents (e.g., ribavirin, IL-2), and active, passive, and/or therapeutic vaccines. Combination therapies according to the present invention comprise the administration of at least one compound of the present invention or a functional derivative thereof and at least one other pharmaceutically active ingredient. The active ingredient(s) and pharmaceutically active agents may be administered separately or together and when administered separately this may occur simultaneously or separately in any order. The amounts of the active ingredient(s) and pharmaceutically active agent(s) and the relative timings of administration will be selected in order to achieve the desired combined therapeutic effect.

Therefore, the present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more compound having a structure according to any of formulae 1-5, as defined above, wherein the compound or compounds are present in a concentration effective to inhibit a reverse transcriptase and/or HIV replication in a cell of a patient when the composition is administered to the patient. In preferred embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition of the invention comprises one or more compounds according to any of formulae 2-5. It is particularly contemplated that a plurality of compounds may be incorporated into a single pharmaceutical composition, in order to obtain wide-ranging inhibition of a plurality of mutant RT enzymes.

With respect to suitable concentrations of contemplated compounds in pharmaceutical compositions, it should be appreciated that a person of ordinary skill in the art can readily adjust the amount of the compound to achieve inhibition of the reverse transcriptase and/or HIV replication. For example, inhibition of the HIV replication in a cell (typically a T-cell infected with the HIV virus) may be monitored in vitro using a blood culture and a luciferase based assay system as described below. Alternatively, inhibition of the reverse transcriptase may be monitored in vivo using RT-PCR to determine the amount of copies of viral DNA and/or RNA in blood or lymph nodes (containing HIV infected cells). It is generally contemplated that suitable concentrations will achieve a serum concentration of between 1 nM and 100 uM, and in some cases between 0.01 nM and 1 nM).

EXAMPLE 1 Table 1, # 20 4-[2-(5-bromo-4-[2-chloro-4-cyclopropyl-6-methylphenyl]-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio)acetamido]-3-chlorobenzoic acid

To a solution of 1 (1 g, 4.5 mmol), cyclopropyl boronic acid (506 mg, 5.9 mmol), potassium phosphate (3.34 g, 15.8 mmol) and tricyclohexylphosphine (126 mg, 0.45 mmol) in toluene (20 mL) and water (0.76 mL) under nitrogen atmosphere was added palladium acetate (51 mg, 0.23 mmol). The mixture was heated to 100° C. for 3 h and then cooled to room temperature. Water was added and the mixture extracted with ethyl acetate, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to give 775 mg of crude 2-chloro-4-cyclopropyl-6-methylbenzenamine (2) that was used in the next step without further purification.

Compound 2 (775 mg, 4.3 mmol) was dissolved in 9 mL of dichloromethane. Sodium bicarbonate (4.5 mL, sat. solution) and thiophosgene (0.33 mL, 4.3 mmol) were added and the mixture stirred at room temperature for 1 h. Then, the organic layer was separated, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to afford 935 mg of 1-chloro-5-cyclopropyl-2-isothiocyanato-3-methylbenzene (3) which was used in the next step without further purification.

Compound 3 (935 mg, 4.2 mmol) was dissolved in 5 mL of dimethylformamide, aminoguanidine hydrochloride salt (695 mg, 6.3 mmol) and diisopropyl ethylamine (1.1 mL, 6.3 mmol) were added and the mixture stirred at 50° C. for 18 hours. The mixture was then concentrated and to the resulting residue was added 2M aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (20 mL). The mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 18 hours and then cooled to room temperature. The resulting mixture was then neutralized with aqueous 1N HCl and the precipitate (product) collected to give 5-amino-4-(2-chloro-4-cyclopropyl-6-methylphenyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol (4). (780 mg, 66% yield)

Compound 4 (100 mg, 0.36 mmol) and 3-chloro-4-(2-chloroacetamido)benzoic acid (5) (88 mg, 0.36 mmol) were dissolved in DMF (2 mL) and the mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 18 hours. Water was then added and the mixture extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was separated, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to give 192 mg, of crude 4-(2-(5-amino-4-(2-chloro-4-cyclopropyl-6-methylphenyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio)acetamido)-3-chlorobenzoic acid (6) which was used in next step without further purification.

Dichloroacetic acid (0.065 mL, 0.78 mmol) was added to a mixture of compound 6 (192 mg, 0.39 mmol), benzyltriethyl ammonium bromide (318 mg, 1.17 mmol) and sodium nitrite (538 mg, 7.8 mmol) in dibromomethane (10 mL). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 18 hours in the dark. The reaction mixture was then concentrated and the resulting residue was purified by prep. TLC (95% dichloromethane/5% methanol) to afford 88 mg, 42% yield of 4-(2-(5-bromo-4-(2-chloro-4-cyclopropyl-6-methylphenyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio)acetamido)-3-chlorobenzoic acid (7).

EXAMPLE 2 Table 1, # 8 4-[2-(5-bromo-4-(4-cyclopropylnaphthalen-1-yl)₄H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio)acetamido]chlorobenzoic acid

To a solution of 1 (500 mg, 2.01 mmol), cyclopropyl boronic acid (225 mg, 2.62 mmol), potassium phosphate (1.49 g, 7.04 mmol) and tricyclohexylphosphine (56 mg, 0.2 mmol) in toluene (10 mL) and water (0.4 mL) under nitrogen atmosphere was added palladium acetate (23 mg, 0.1 mmol). The mixture was heated to 100° C. for 3 h and then cooled to room temperature. Water was added and the mixture extracted with ethyl acetate, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to give 550 mg of crude 4-cyclopropylnaphthalen-1-amine (2) that was used in the next step without further purification.

Compound 2 (440 mg, 2.6 mmol) was dissolved in 14 mL of dichloromethane. Sodium bicarbonate (7 mL, sat. solution) and thiophosgene (0.2 mL, 2.6 mmol) were added and the mixture stirred at room temperature for 1 h. Then, the organic layer was separated, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to afford 877 mg, 99% yield of 1-cyclopropyl-4-isothiocyanatonaphthalene (3) which was used in the next step without further purification

Compound 3 (447 mg, 2.1 mmol) was dissolved in 3 mL of dimethylformamide, aminoguanidine hydrochloride salt (355 mg, 3.2 mmol) and diisopropyl ethylamine (0.56 mL, 3.2 mmol) were added and the mixture stirred at 50° C. for 18 hours. The mixture was then concentrated and to the resulting residue was added 2M aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (10 mL). The mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 18 hours and then cooled to room temperature. The resulting mixture was then neutralized with aqueous 1N HCl and the precipitate (product) collected to give 5-amino-4-(4-cyclopropylnaphthalen-1-yl)₄H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol (4). (240 mg, 44% yield)

Compound 4 (789 mg, 2.79 mmol) and 3-chloro-4-(2-chloroacetamido)benzoic acid (5) (693 mg, 2.79 mmol) were dissolved in DMF (6 mL) and the mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 18 hours. Water was then added and the mixture extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was separated, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to give 1.04 g, 75% yield of 4-(2-(5-amino-4-(4-cyclopropylnaphthalen-1-yl)₄H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio)acetamido)-3-chlorobenzoic acid (6).

Dichloroacetic acid (0.35 mL, 4.2 mmol) was added to a mixture of compound 6 (1.04 g, 2.1 mmol), benzyltriethyl ammonium bromide (1.65 g, 6.1 mmol) and sodium nitrite (2.9 g, 42.1 mmol) in dibromomethane (44 mL). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 18 hours in the dark. The reaction mixture was then concentrated and the resulting residue was purified by column chromatography (95% dichloromethane/5% methanol) to afford 393 mg, 34% yield of 4-(2-(5-bromo-4-(4-cyclopropylnaphthalen-1-yl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio)acetamido)-3-chlorobenzoic acid (7).

EXAMPLE 3 Table 1, # 15 4-[2-(5-bromo-4-[7-methoxy-4-methylnaphthalen-1-yl]-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio)acetamido]-3-chlorobenzoic acid

A mixture of 8-amino-2-naphthol 1 (8.2 g, 52 mmol), benzaldehyde (16 mL, 156 mmol) and sodium sulfate (41.3 g, 291 mmol) in THF (100 mL) was stirred at reflux over night. The mixture was cooled to room temperature, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting residue was purified by column chromatography (hexane/ethyl acetate/triethyl amine 75/23/2) to give 12.65 g of impure (E)-8-(benzylideneamino) naphthalen-2-ol (2) which was used in the next step without further purification.

A mixture of 2 (12.65 g, 51.2 mmol), MeI (6.4 mL, 102 mmol) and NaOH (6.14 g, 153 mmol) in acetone (125 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. The resulting mixture was concentrated and the residue dissolved in ether, washed with water and brine and concentrated. The resulting residue was dissolved in 2N HCl-THF (780 mL, 2:1) and stirred at room temperature for 1.5 hrs. The resulting solution was washed with ether, the aqueous layer basified with Na₂CO₃ and extracted with ether. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. The resulting residue was purified by column chromatography (Hex/EtOAc 3:1) to give 6.94 g, 78% yield of 7-methoxynaphthalen-1-amine (3).

To a stirred mixture of 3 (6.94 g, 40 mmol) and potassium carbonate (16.6 g, 120 mmol) in acetone (100 mL) was added benzyl bromide (19.0 mL, 160 mmol) at 0° C. The mixture was refluxed for 3 days and cooled to room temperature. The precipitate removed and the filtrate concentrated. The resulting residue was purified by column chromatography (Hex 100%) to remove the unreacted benzyl bromide and then with ethyl acetate (100%) to give 11.75 g, 83% yield of N,N-dibenzyl-7-methoxynaphthalen-1-amine (4).

To a stirred solution of DMF (30 mL) was added POCl₃ (10.65 mL, 116 mmol) over 30 minutes at 0° C. The mixture was then stirred at 0° C. for 30 minutes and added 4 (11.75 g, 33.2 mmol) in DMF (120 mL). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for six days and the poured into ice-water. The product mixture was extracted with dichloromethane and the organic layer washed with water, aqueous sodium bicarbonate and brine, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to afford 13.58 g of 4-(dibenzylamino)-6-methoxy-1-naphthaldehyde (5) which was used in next step without further purification.

A mixture of 5 (5.0 g, 13.1 mmol) and Pd/Carbon (812 mg) in methanol (150 mL) was stirred under hydrogen atmosphere (40 PSI) for 18 hours. The mixture was passed through celite and concentrated. The resulting residue was purified by column chromatography (Hex/EtOAC 3:1) to give 826 mg, 35% yield of 7-methoxy-4-methylnaphthalen-1-amine (6).

Compound 6 (826 mg, 4.4 mmol) was dissolved in 25 mL of dichloromethane. Sodium bicarbonate (15 mL, sat. solution) and thiophosgene (0.34 mL, 4.4 mmol) were added and the mixture stirred at room temperature for 1 h. Then, the organic layer was separated, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to afford 1.9 g, 99% yield of 4-isothiocyanato-6-methoxy-1-methylnaphthalene (7) which was used in the next step without further purification

Compound 7 (1.0 g, 4.4 mmol) was dissolved in 10 mL of dimethylformamide, aminoguanidine hydrochloride salt (723 mg, 6.5 mmol) and diisopropyl ethylamine (1.14 mL, 6.5 mmol) were added and the mixture stirred at 50° C. for 18 hours. The mixture was then concentrated and to the resulting residue was added 2M aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (10 mL). The mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 18 hours and then cooled to room temperature. The resulting mixture was then neutralized with aqueous 1N HCl and the precipitate (product) collected to give 5-amino-4-(7-methoxy-4-methylnaphthalen-1-yl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol (8). (1.14 mg, 91% yield)

Compound 8 (200 mg, 0.7 mmol) and 3-chloro-4-(2-chloroacetamido)benzoic acid (9) (174 mg, 0.7 mmol) were dissolved in DMF (3 mL) and the mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 18 hours. Water was then added and the mixture extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was separated, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to give 304 mg of 4-[2-(5-amino-4-[7-methoxy-4-methylnaphthalen-1-yl]-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio)acetamido]-3-chlorobenzoic acid (10) which was used in the next step without further purification.

Dichloroacetic acid (0.1 mL, 1.2 mmol) was added to a mixture of compound 10 (304 mg, 0.6 mmol), benzyltriethyl ammonium bromide (492 mg, 1.8 mmol) and sodium nitrite (828 mg, 12 mmol) in dibromomethane (10 mL). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 18 hours in the dark. The reaction mixture was then concentrated and the resulting residue was purified by column chromatography (95% dichloromethane/5% methanol) to afford 80 mg, 24% yield of 4-[2-(5-bromo-4-[7-methoxy-4-methylnaphthalen-1-yl]-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio)acetamido]-3-chlorobenzoic acid (11).

EXAMPLE 4 Table 1, # 25 4-[2-(5-bromo-4-[4-cyclopropyl-7-methoxynaphthalen-1-yl]-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio)acetamido]-3-chlorobenzoic acid

To a stirred solution of 8-amino-2-naphthol 1 (7.5 g, 47.1 mmol) in a mixture of tetrahydrofuran (75 mL) and dichloromethane (150 mL) was added di-t-butyldicarbonate (10.28, 47.1 mmol). The mixture was stirred at 70° C. for 18 hours. After the mixture was cooled to room temperature, saturated aqueous solution of sodium carbonate was added and the product was extracted with dichloromethane. The organic layer was washed with water and brine, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The obtained residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (dichloromethane:ethylacetate, 9:1) to afford tert-butyl 7-hydroxynaphthalen-1-ylcarbamate (2). (12.36 g, quantitative yield)

To a mixture of 2 (12.36 g, 47.7 mmol) and triethylamine (9.97 mL, 71.5 mmol) in dichloromethane (400 mL) was added methanesulfonic anhydride (9.3 g, 52.4 mmol) at 0° C. The mixture was stirred for 30 min and poured into saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution. The organic layer was extracted with dichloromethane, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to give 8-(tert-butoxycarbonylamino)naphthalen-2-yl methanesulfonate (3). (14.85 g, 92% yield)

To a solution of 3 (14.85 g, 44 mmol) in 365 mL of acetic acid was added N-bromo succinimide (8.23 g, 46.2 mmol). The mixture was stirred for 2 h and water and dichloromethane were added. The aqueous layer was adjusted to pH 7 by addition of 10 N aqueous sodium hydroxide. The organic layer was extracted with dichloromethane, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to give the crude 5-bromo-8-(tert-butoxycarbonylamino)naphthalen-2-yl methanesulfonate (4). (17.88 g, 97% yield)

A mixture of 4 (17.88 g, 43 mmol) and 10% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (860 mL) in tetrahydrofuran (500 mL) was stirred at 50° C. for 5 days. The mixture was cooled to 0° C. and neutralized with concentrated hydrochloric acid. The mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, and the product was extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated to give tert-butyl 4-bromo-7-hydroxynaphthalen-1-ylcarbamate (5). (14.32 g, 98% yield)

A mixture of 5 (14.32 g, 42.3 mmol), methyl iodide (2.63 mL, 42.3 mmol) and sodium hydroxide (1.69 g, 42.3 mmol) in acetone (100 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 4 hours. The resulting mixture was concentrated and the residue purified by column chromatography (85% hexane/15% ethyl acetate) to afford 8.85 g, 59% yield of tert-butyl 4-bromo-7-methoxynaphthalen-1-ylcarbamate (6).

A mixture of 6 (8.85 g, 25.1 mmol) in 4N HCl in 1,4-dioxane (250 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour. The mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure and was added ethyl acetate and saturated sodium bicarbonate solution. The extracted organic layer was washed with water and brine, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure to give 4-bromo-7-methoxynaphthalen-1-amine (7). (4.29 g, 67% yield)

To a solution of 7 (2 g, 7.9 mmol), cyclopropyl boronic acid (885 mg, 10.3 mmol), potassium phosphate (5.89 g, 27.7 mmol) and tricyclohexylphosphine (222 mg, 0.79 mmol) in toluene (40 mL) and water (1.6 mL) under nitrogen atmosphere was added palladium acetate (96 mg, 0.39 mmol). The mixture was heated to 100° C. for 3 h and then cooled to room temperature. Water was added and the mixture extracted with ethyl acetate, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. Purification by column chromatography (50% hexane/50% ethyl acetate) afforded 4-cyclopropyl-7-methoxynaphthalen-1-amine (8). (1.46 g, 86% yield)

Compound 8 (1.46 mg, 6.8 mmol) was dissolved in 40 mL of dichloromethane. Sodium bicarbonate (25 mL, sat. solution) and thiophosgene (0.52 mL, 6.8 mmol) were added and the mixture stirred at room temperature for 1 h. Then, the organic layer was separated, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to afford 1.69 g, 97% yield of 1-cyclopropyl-4-isothiocyanato-6-methoxynaphthalene (9) which was used in the next step without further purification.

Compound 9 (1.69 g, 6.6 mmol) was dissolved in 20 mL of dimethylformamide, aminoguanidine hydrochloride salt (1.1 g, 9.9 mmol) and diisopropyl ethylamine (1.73 mL, 9.9 mmol) were added and the mixture stirred at 50° C. for 18 hours. The mixture was then concentrated and to the resulting residue was added 2M aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (40 mL). The mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 18 hours and then cooled to room temperature. The resulting mixture was then neutralized with aqueous 1N HCl and the precipitate (product) collected to give 5-amino-4-(4-cyclopropyl-7-methoxynaphthalen-1-yl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol (10). (983 mg, 47% yield)

Compound 10 (100 mg, 0.32 mmol) and 3-chloro-4-(2-chloroacetamido)benzoic acid (11) (79 mg, 0.32 mmol) were dissolved in DMF (2 mL) and the mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 18 hours. Water was then added to the mixture and the precipitate formed collected to give the crude 4-[2-(5-amino-4-[4-cyclopropyl-7-methoxynaphthalen-1-yl]-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio)acetamido]-3-chlorobenzoic acid (12) which was used in next step without further purification.

Dichloroacetic acid (0.063 mL, 0.76 mmol) was added to a mixture of compound 12 (200 mg, 0.38 mmol), benzyltriethyl ammonium bromide (311 mg, 1.14 mmol) and sodium nitrite (526 mg, 7.63 mmol) in dibromomethane (3 mL). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 18 hours in the dark. The reaction mixture was then concentrated and the resulting residue was purified by prep. TLC (95% dichloromethane/5% methanol) to afford 90.4 mg of 4-[2-(5-bromo-4-[4-cyclopropyl-7-methoxynaphthalen-1-yl]-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio)acetamido]-3-chlorobenzoic acid (13), 40% yield.

Results

Compounds of the invention were tested against the wild-type and four mutant HIV reverse transcriptases. The results are listed in Table 1 as EC₅₀ (nM) and IC₅₀ (nM). In the Table, A represents <50 nM, B is between 50 and 100 nM, and C is >100 nM. ND is not determined. Preferred compounds in this invention are those that exhibit activities on wild-type (WT) and resistant mutants below 50 nM in both EC₅₀ and IC₅₀.

TABLE 1

IC₅₀ EC₅₀ EC₅₀ EC₅₀ WT IC₅₀ IC₅₀ WT Y181C Y188L RT Y181C Y188L No. R¹ A Ar R₂ (nM) (nM) (nM) (nM) (nM) (nM) 1 CF₂H

H A A A A A C 2 CF₂H

H A B C A C C 3 CF₂H

H A A A A A C 4 CF₂H

H A C C A C C 5 Br

H A A C A B C 6 Br

H A A A A A C 7 Br

H A A A 8 Br

H A A A A A C 9 Br

H A A A A A B 10 Br

H A A A A A B 11 Br

H A A A A A C 12 CF₂H

H A A A A A C 13 CF₃

H A B C A A C 14 CH₂F

H A A C A A C 15 Br

H A A A A A A 16 Br

H A A B A A B 17 Br

H A A A A A C 18 Br

H A A A A A B 19 Br

H A A A A A C 20 Br

H A A A A A C 21 Br

H A A C A B C 22 Br

H A A C A B C 23 Br

H A A C A A C 24 Br

H A A C A A C 25 Br

H A A A A A B 26 Br

H A N.T N.T A N.T N.T 27 Br

H A A A A A B 28 Br

H A A A A B A 29 Br

H A A A B A A 30 Br

H A A B A A B 31 Br

H A A A A A A 32 Br

H A A B A A C 33 Br

H A C B B A C 34 Br

H A A C A A B 35 Br

H A C C A A B 36 Br

H A C C A A C 37 Br

H A A C B A B 38 Br

H A A B A A B 39 Br

H B C C A A B 40 Br

H A B C A A B 41 Br

H A A A A A A 42 Br

H A A C A B B 43 Br

H A A A A A A 

1. A compound of formula

wherein:

R¹ is selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, I, CH₃, CF₃, CHF₂, and CH₂F; X is O or NH; R² is H, a pharmaceutically acceptable cation or C₁₋₃ alkyl, when X is O; or XR² is NHCH₂CH₂COOR¹³ or NHCH(R¹²)COOR¹³ where R¹² is C₁₋₄ alkyl or aryl-C₁₋₄ alkyl and R¹³ a pharmaceutically acceptable cation or C₁₋₃ alkyl; R³ is H or CH₃; R⁰ is selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, CF₃ and methyl; R^(P) is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, cyclopropylmethyl, and C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl; and R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ are independently selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, CH₃, CF₃, CFH₂, CF₂H, ethyl, isopropyl, cyclopropyl, OCH₃, OH, OCF₃, NH₂ and NHCH₃.
 2. The compound of claim 1, wherein X is O.
 3. The compound of claim 2, wherein none of R⁴, R⁵, and R⁶ is OH, NH₂ or NHCH₃.
 4. The compound of claim 2, wherein at least one of R⁴, R⁵, and R⁶ is other than H or CH₃.
 5. The compound of claim 3 wherein at least one of R⁴, R⁵, and R⁶ is other than H or CH₃.
 6. The compound of claim 3, wherein R₁ is selected from the group consisting of Br, CF₃, CFH₂, and CF₂H.
 7. The compound of claim 6, wherein each of R⁴, R⁵, and R⁶ is H.
 8. The compound of claim 7, wherein R^(P) is cyclopropyl.
 9. The compound of claim 7, which is 4-[2-(5-bromo-4-[4-cyclopropylnaphthalen-1-yl]-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio)acetamido]-3-chlorobenzoic acid or an ester or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 10. The compound of claim 9, wherein R² is H.
 11. The compound of claim 6, wherein R¹ is Br and R⁰ is Cl.
 12. The compound of claim 6, wherein Ar is 7-substituted naphthyl.
 13. The compound of claim 12, wherein R⁴ is 7-ethyl, 7-OCH₃, or 7-cyclopropyl, and each of R⁵ and R⁶ are H.
 14. The compound of claim 13, which is 4-[2-(5-bromo-4-[7-methoxy-4-methylnaphthalen-1-yl]-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio)acetamido]-3-chlorobenzoic acid or an ester or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 15. The compound of claim 14, wherein R² is H.
 16. The compound of claim 6, where R⁰ is Cl.
 17. The compound of claim 16, wherein R^(P) is cyclopropyl.
 18. The compound of claim 17, which is 4-[2-(5-bromo-4-[4-cyclopropyl-7-methoxynaphthalen-1-yl]-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio)acetamido]-3-chlorobenzoic acid or an ester or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 19. The compound of claim 18, wherein R² is H. 